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Understanding Body Temperature: Vital Signs and Measurement Techniques

This comprehensive guide provides information on the importance of body temperature readings, defining normal ranges, factors affecting body temperature, and identifying conditions like fever, hypothermia, and hyperthermia. Learn about different sites for temperature measurement, types of thermometers, and how to read and document temperature readings accurately. Discover the significance of heat loss and production in the body, and how extreme temperatures can impact health. Stay informed about body temperature conversion between Fahrenheit and Celsius for precise monitoring.

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Understanding Body Temperature: Vital Signs and Measurement Techniques

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  1. Vital Signs • INFORMATION ABOUT THE BASIC BODY CONDITIONS OF PATIENTS

  2. HAVE YOU EVER HAD YOUR TEMPERATURE TAKEN • WHY?

  3. BODY TEMPERATURE • DEFINE • NORMAL RANGE

  4. BODY TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT OF THE BALANCE BETWEEN HEAT LOSS AND HEAT PRODUCED IN THE BODY

  5. Temperature Normal Ranges • Oral 97.6 - 99.6F (36.5 – 37.5C) • Rectal and Temporal 98.6-100.6F (37- 38.1C) • Axillary 96.6- 98.6F (36-37C) • Aural This provides a measurement of body core temperature so there is no normal range.

  6. BODY TEMPERATURE • FACTORS THAT CHANGE BODY TEMPERATURE • DEFINE HYPERTHERMIA, HYPOTHERMIA AND FEVER • INDENTY 5 SITES TO CHECK TEMPERATURES

  7. FACTORS THAT CHANGE BODY TEMPERATURE • ILLNESS AND INFECTION • EXERCISE AND/OR EXCITEMENT • HIGH/LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE ENVIRONMENT

  8. HOW IS HEAT LOST? • PERSPIRATION • RESPIRATION • EXCRETION

  9. HOW IS HEAT PRODUCED • METABOLISM OF FOOD

  10. FEVER • TEMPERATURE ABOVE 100.4

  11. HYPERTHERMIA • TEMPERATURE ABOVE 104 • DEATH AND CONVULSIONS • TEMPERATURE ABOVE 106

  12. HYPERTHERMIA • PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO HOT TEMPERATURES • BRAIN DAMAGE • SERIOUS INFECTION

  13. HYPOTHERMIA • TEMPERATURE BELOW 95 • DEATH • TEMPERATURE BELOW 93

  14. HYPOTHERMIA • STARVATION OR FASTING • DECREASE IN MUSCLE ACTIVITY • COLD TEMPERATURES IN THE ENVIRONMENT

  15. Five Sites to Measure Temperature • Oral • Axillary/Groin • Temporal • Aural • Rectal

  16. Types of Thermometers Clinical (oral, axillary and rectal) Electronic (oral, axillary, and rectal) Tympanic- aural Temporal Scanning- temporal

  17. Clinical Thermometer • A clinical thermometer is a glass thermometer • They can be filled with mercury or alcohol with red dye • The component expands when exposed to heat • To avoid Mercury poisioning OSHA recommends alcohol or digital thermometers

  18. Reading a Clinical Thermometer • Hold the thermometer at eye level • Rotate it slowly to find the solid column of mercury or alcohol • The thermometer is read at the point where the line ends

  19. Reading a Clinical Thermometer • Each long line is read as 1 degree • Each short line represents 2/10 of a degree .2 • Temperature is always recorded to the nearest 2/10 of a degree

  20. Reading Thermometers • Electronic, tympanic and temporal thermometers are easy to read because they have digital displays.

  21. Documenting Temperature • 98 is an oral reading • 99 (R) is a rectal reading • 97 (Ax) is an axillary reading • 100 (A) is an aural reading • 101 (T) is a temporal reading

  22. Conversion • Converting Fahrenheit to Celsius • C= (F-32)x5/9 or 0.5556 • Converting Celsius to Fahrenheit • F=(Cx9/5 or 1.8)+32

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